What better way to commemorate Emergency Preparedness Week than having students and community organizations work together to tackle a variety of mock emergency situations?
On May 8, 2018, students at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia got a lesson in emergency preparedness from local partners: Orillia Fire Department, Ontario Provincial Police and the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services. Students learned about chemical spills, decontamination and even got a glimpse into how first responders react to large-scale emergencies. With the help of Patrick Fogarty neighbour, Kubota Materials Canada, students got a first-hand look at what it’s like to get lost in a 10 acre forest and how emergency services conduct a search and rescue.
The entire experience put into perspective for students, how they would react in an emergency situation and the importance of personal emergency preparedness. Participants were encouraged to be aware of the risks in their own area, create an emergency plan at home and assemble a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit.
We would like to thank all organizations for their participation and for creating this fantastic eye-opening opportunity for students.
Photo courtesy of Orillia Matters.